Gamma Epsilon Pi

Gamma Epsilon Pi
Gamma Epsilon Pi
ΓΕΠ
Founded	March 26, 1918; 106 years ago; University of Illinois; University of Wisconsin; University of Washington;
Type	Honor Society
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Merged
Merge Date	April 29, 1933
Successor	Beta Gamma Sigma
Emphasis	Business
Scope	National
Colors	Coral and Gray
Publication	The Signboard; The Post
Chapters	18
Members	983 lifetime
Headquarters	; United States

Gamma Epsilon Pi (ΓΕΠ) was a business honor society for women. In1933, the group merged into Beta Gamma Sigma, a similar organization.

History

Gamma Epsilon Pi was founded at the University of Illinois on March 26, 1918.^[1]^[2] The founders were five Junior Women in the College of Commerce who felt that a similar organization to Beta Gamma Sigma was needed for Women.^[1] Alpha Gamma Pi was established at University of Wisconsin and Phi Sigma Chi was established at University of Washington at approximately the same time and the three groups merged in 1922. The name and the pin for Gamma Epsilon Pi were adopted for the merged group, a new Constitution and Ritual were created.

On April 29, 1933, the group merged into Beta Gamma Sigma, a similar organization founded for men, which began allowing female members in February 1932.^[3]^[4] The 983 women of Gamma Epsilon Pi became lifetime members of Beta Gamma Sigma.^[4]

Symbols

The society's badge was in the shape of a key bearing the Greek letters ΓΕΠ. This pin exhibits a golden post and swinging signboard bearing the letters Γ, Ε, and Π, arrayed in the center of a gold key. In print this insignia may be set on a black shield.^[3]^[5]

The society's colors were coral and grey. Its publications were The Signboard and The Post.

Membership

Active membership was limited to junior and senior women who ranked in the top fifteen percent of the women enrolled in the school's College of Commerce.

Chapters

The chapters of Gamma Epsilon Pi include the following groups. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics.^[1]

Chapter	Charter date and range	Institution	City or county	State or province	Status	References
Alpha	March 26, 1918–April 29, 1933	University of Illinois	Champaign and Urbana	Illinois	Merged
Beta	November 22, 1919–April 29, 1933	Northwestern University	Evanston	Illinois	Merged	^[6]
Gamma	1920–April 29, 1933	University of California	Berkeley	California	Merged
Delta	1920–April 29, 1933	University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	Merged
Epsilon	1920–April 29, 1933	University of Iowa	Iowa City	Iowa	Merged
Zeta	March 4, 1921–April 29, 1933	University of Kansas	Lawrence	Kansas	Merged	^[7]
Eta	April 23, 1921–April 29, 1933	University of Minnesota	Minneapolis	Minnesota	Merged	^[7]
Theta	1922–April 29, 1933	University of Oklahoma	Norman	Oklahoma	Merged
Iota	1922–April 29, 1933	Washington University	St. Louis County	Missouri	Merged
Kappa	1922–April 29, 1933	University of Southern California	Los Angeles	California	Merged
Lambda	1922–April 29, 1933	University of Montana	Missoula	Montana	Merged
Alpha Beta	1922–April 29, 1933	University of Washington	Seattle	Washington	Merged	^[b]
Alpha Gamma	1922–April 29, 1933	University of Wisconsin	Madison	Wisconsin	Merged	^[c]
Alpha Delta	1922–April 29, 1933	University of Texas	Austin	Texas	Merged	^[d]
Alpha Epsilon	1922–April 29, 1933	Syracuse University	Syracuse	New York	Merged	^[e]
Alpha Zeta	1922–April 29, 1933	New York University	New York City	New York	Merged	^[f]
Mu	1924–April 29, 1933	University of Nebraska	Lincoln	Nebraska	Merged
Nu	1926–April 29, 1933	Ohio State University	Columbus	Ohio	Merged

^ Listed as a dormant (merged) organization, Baird's had classified ΓΕΠ as a Recognition society through earlier editions, while active. Today, Recognition societies are grouped within the larger umbrella of Honor societies, as the differences have become moot. The successor organization, ΒΓΣ, has always been classified as an Honor society, and is a member of the ACHS.
^ This chapter originated as Phi Sigma Chi (local) approximately in 1918, likely soon after the formation of Alpha chapter of ΓΕΠ. At the consolidation of the sorority in 1922 it was given its off-cycle chapter name, to indicate it was one of the originators of the sorority.
^ This chapter originated as Alpha Gamma Pi (local) approximately in 1918, likely soon after the formation of Alpha chapter of ΓΕΠ. At the consolidation of the sorority in 1922 it was given its off-cycle chapter name, to indicate it was one of the originators of the sorority.
^ As indicated by its off-cycle name, this chapter may have been considered another of the founding chapters of ΓΕΠ, but it was not specifically noted as such in Baird's records.
^ As indicated by its off-cycle name, this chapter may have been considered another of the founding chapters of ΓΕΠ, but it was not specifically noted as such in Baird's records.
^ As indicated by its off-cycle name, this chapter may have been considered another of the founding chapters of ΓΕΠ, but it was not specifically noted as such in Baird's records.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Shepardson, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual American College Fraternities: A Descriptive Analysis With a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 341 – via Google Books.
^ "Sorority Directory". Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company, Incorporated. September 1922. p. 264.
^ ^a ^b Baird, William Raimond (1949). "Gamma Epsilon Pi". In Baily, Harold J (ed.). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (15th ed.). Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing. p. 850. OCLC 7435210.
^ ^a ^b Beta Gamma Sigma International Exchange Fall 2012
^ Baird, Wm. Raimond; Brown, James T., eds. (1923). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (10 ed.). New York: James T. Brown. pp. 616–617. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^ The Syllabus of Northwestern University 1921 p566
^ ^a ^b The Enterpriser v1 no 4 (May 1921) p 29

[1] Listed as a dormant (merged) organization, Baird's had classified ΓΕΠ as a Recognition society through earlier editions, while active. Today, Recognition societies are grouped within the larger umbrella of Honor societies, as the differences have become moot. The successor organization, ΒΓΣ, has always been classified as an Honor society, and is a member of the ACHS.

[9] This chapter originated as Phi Sigma Chi (local) approximately in 1918, likely soon after the formation of Alpha chapter of ΓΕΠ. At the consolidation of the sorority in 1922 it was given its off-cycle chapter name, to indicate it was one of the originators of the sorority.

[10] This chapter originated as Alpha Gamma Pi (local) approximately in 1918, likely soon after the formation of Alpha chapter of ΓΕΠ. At the consolidation of the sorority in 1922 it was given its off-cycle chapter name, to indicate it was one of the originators of the sorority.

[11] As indicated by its off-cycle name, this chapter may have been considered another of the founding chapters of ΓΕΠ, but it was not specifically noted as such in Baird's records.

[12] As indicated by its off-cycle name, this chapter may have been considered another of the founding chapters of ΓΕΠ, but it was not specifically noted as such in Baird's records.

[13] As indicated by its off-cycle name, this chapter may have been considered another of the founding chapters of ΓΕΠ, but it was not specifically noted as such in Baird's records.

[bairds1927-2] Shepardson, Francis W., ed. (1927). Baird's Manual American College Fraternities: A Descriptive Analysis With a Detailed Account of Each Fraternity (11th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: George Banta Publishing Company. p. 341 – via Google Books.

[3] "Sorority Directory". Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company, Incorporated. September 1922. p. 264.

[Bairds1949-4] Baird, William Raimond (1949). "Gamma Epsilon Pi". In Baily, Harold J (ed.). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (15th ed.). Menasha, WI: George Banta Publishing. p. 850. OCLC 7435210.

[IEF2012-5] Beta Gamma Sigma International Exchange Fall 2012

[6] Baird, Wm. Raimond; Brown, James T., eds. (1923). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (10 ed.). New York: James T. Brown. pp. 616–617. Retrieved 1 October 2023.

[7] The Syllabus of Northwestern University 1921 p566

[Enterpriser-8] The Enterpriser v1 no 4 (May 1921) p 29

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